National Republican., 1887-08-11

on the 2sth OF July, in the only place whore
lie opinions are txpressed-the editorial
columns-it said:
Mr.. John II. Crane who on Tuesday evening
made most serious charges against the mln-
agement, ifnot the honesty, Of the water regis.
trar's Office, is man of character and standing
and he does not make vague statements as to
what has been done, but, on the contrary.
makes distinct and plain allegations, for the
truth Of (which he produces what appears TO be
most excellent evidence that IS, the official
reports Of the office.
These charges cannot be ''whstled down tho
wind.' They must be met as squarely as they
have been made. There are two ways in
which this can be done One is by an investl.
cation so conducted and by such persons that
there will be no possibility of impugning their
verdict. The other is by a suit for libel against
Mr.. Crane when the matter can be adjudicated
in court.
The District commissioners cannot afford to
ignore the charge made by Mr.. Crane. Ifthey
do President Cleveland cannot afford to ignore
the non.aotion OF the District commissioners.
Newspaper answers will not do as against dis.
tinct allegations of fraud, accompanied by
strong proof of their truthfulness.
The commissioners have not chosen TO
select either of the methods suggested by
the NATIONAL RfpUBLIcAS to settle, be-
yond question, the controversy as to the
mismanagement of the water office, and
have resortcd to precisely the methods
which 1t said would not satisfy the public
they have an ex parte statement pre-
pared by subordinate In their Office
to controvert the statement Of Mr.. Crane,
accusing him of making the Fabricated
statement, and declaring theirs to ba the
true one. They seem to forget that the
public will say 'Hf Mr. Crane can tfabrlcate
statements from official reports, Others can
do so also, why not the water registrar ?"
Besides this the commissioners have, pre-
vious to the Issuance Of the present state
ment, descended into the arena Of abuse
and denunciation, and declared ia the
newspapers that those who criticised them
were "malcontents,n "cranks," "conspir-
ators," &c.
Newspaper answers of any kind, as the
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, said, will not settle
the controversy, much less answers which
are only abuse OF the citizens who havt
criticised the action of the commisslo hers,
and some OF whom, personally known to
the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, are the peers o.
any man In the District, either 10 official or
private life.
The commissioners are not frank when
they speak of the "means OF ascertaining
and weighing the actual facts, aud wi h full
access to every source Of official aud au-
thentic information" possessed by the local
press. The commissioners have only to re-
fer to the rules issued by themselves to
know that this statement is not correct.
Every member of the "local press
knows that access to the official papers Is
for The first time denied to the locaL pr SIS by
the present commissioners. This fact war
rants and induces on the part OF the press
closer scrutiny.
The commissioners insinuate in one part
Of their address and charge in another that
aconspiracy exists to bring about change
| OF the present form of the District govern
ment, which the commissioners modestly
| assert has brought untold blessings upon
the District, and that 1t is these consplra-
tors who are making charges against the
| commissioners and their subordinates.
So far as the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, Is con
cerned, as thecommlssoner would say, "the
| charge has no existence whatsoever save In
| the fertile Imagination OF the unscrupulous
| and irresponsible inventors The NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN believes that the people of the
District of Columbia should be represented
in the body which taxes them, that is, the
Congress Of the United States, and in that
desire 1t believes that vast majority OF the
people Of the District coincide with 1t. So
far as the executive duties are concerned 4
has not expressed any desire Tor change
Such representative in Congress, choser
as he would be from the best Of the citizens
would correctly voice the wishes OF tht
people and accomplish even more than the
commissioners so complacently claim the,
| have done.
| The report of Capt. Symons is perhap'
the best statement that could be made By
him In defense of his superior officers
Capt. Symons is not accused Of wron.
doing. He obeyed the orders Of his chiefs
They alone are responsible, Yet Capt
symons makes mistake. The main allega
tion of Mr.. Crane has been that the none.
collected from water main taxes has no
been applied to the water service, bu
diverted to other purposes. That alleg
ton is ot satisfactorily answered. No
is that in regard to the cost Of laying waite
mains.
Capt. Symons makes the same mlstak
bis superior officers do, that Of charging
improper and unworthy motives to thos
who have criticised his conduct. Publi
officials should expect criticism, and no
consider every man dishonest who indulge
in it. Citizens Of free country have tn
right to comment on the acts of publ
servants without being accused Of dis
! honesty. The army regulations Go no
apply to the people Of the District OF Cc
lumbia nor are the officers OF the Dlstrc
government, even when detailed from tn
army, IN command Of the people.
The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN proposes
uphold the citizens OF the District In ever
reasonable, just, and proper demand as t
how the money they pay as taxes Is dispose
Of. The citizens have right to know tha
It is properly done-accordng to law an
for their best interests. The revelations G
the past few days as to its expenditure 1
certain cases cast doubts as 10 whether thl
is done. The regulations at the DlstriC
offices which forbid the examination {
books and papers tend to intensity thes
doubts, and the abuse Of the men who hav
made these revelations lead to still furtht
doubt.
Every doubt can be eradicated from I'll
minds of the people by very plain an
obvious course. Let the commissioners r.
quest the selection Of three experts, one
the President Of the United States, one /
the President Of the Senate, and or